Racecourse boss dies at airport on way back from Maldives holiday
THE boss of Scotland’s l argest racecourse has died while returning from holiday in the Maldives.
Barry Macdonald died suddenly last week at Amsterdam Airport on his way home to Ayr with his wife Gillian.
He was described by family and friends as ‘charismatic’, ‘full of life’ and a ‘true character’.
Mr Macdonald, 54, who has a son Adam and two daughters Amber and Verity, was a co-director at Ayr Racecourse. He also owned and bred race horses.
His father Alan said: ‘Barry was totally reliable. When he said he would do something you knew it would be done.’
Verity also spoke of her father’s love of barbecues and recalled: ‘Even in December he would think nothing of going out into the garden and preparing a barbecue with his flip flops on.’
Mr Macdonald was a keen rugby player and coached for his local team, Ayr Rugby Club.
The club said: ‘Barry’s involvement with the club has been immense, as a friend, player, supporter and as a major part of our sponsorship family.
‘He will be sadly missed by all at Ayr Rugby.
‘For a number of years now Alan has been one of our main sponsors. And Adam is now following in his dad’s footsteps and has played for the 1st XV.
‘All at Ayr Rugby send their deepest condolences to Barry’s family at this distressing time, our thoughts are with you all.’
Co-director of the racecourse and friend Richard Johnson said: ‘His knowledge and experience of the property industry and his passion for racing made him a valued member of the board of directors at Ayr Racecourse and he contributed greatly to its ongoing success.
‘He was a successful racehorse
‘He was like a magnet’
owner and was the leading owner at Ayr for the 2019-2020 jumps season.
‘With his engaging and effervescent personality, Barry was Ayr Racecourse’s biggest ambassador and he developed many important contacts with racing professionals who visited Ayr.
‘His untimely passing is a huge loss to the racecourse and to all those who knew him.
‘My thoughts are with his family, who he loved dearly.’
Mr Macdonald attended Fettes College in Edinburgh before graduating with a BSc Masters from Glasgow Caledonian University.
He spent a year working in Sydney, Australia, before returning to Scotland where he took up a role as head of general works at developers the Dawn Group, for whom he managed many projects over the years.
An avid rugby fan, he followed the Scotland rugby team all over the world and to three World Cup tournaments, including last year’s in Japan, which he attended with father Alan.
Close friend and former Scotland rugby international Derek Stark paid tribute, saying: ‘Everybody remembered Barry.
‘I have been inundated with messages from friends of mine who had met Barry only once or twice yet took the time to let me know how sad they were to hear of his death.
‘I even got a text from Scotland rugby coach Gregor Townsend saying how sorry he was to hear about Barry, and he’d only met him once.
‘He was like a magnet in a room. We had been to rugby World Cups in France, New Zealand and Japan and countless other Scotland games together. Above all, he was a great husband and a great dad.
‘This is such a big loss.’